Surge in UK benefits applications reinforces jobless fears

124886755_web1_Vincent-Cropper

Hazleton man charged with sexually assaulting teen girl

WILKES-BARRE &mdash; Wilkes University has announced the spring commencement, postponed from May 16, will be held Sept. 12.
				&ldquo;This new time frame allows us to combine our spring and summer commencements during one momentous occasion when we can all be together again.&rdquo;
				The commencement, like others in the area, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilkes an other local institutions of higher education have been holding remote-only learning for more than a month.
				Wilkes Interim President Paul Adams sent out a notice regarding the decision to award master&rsquo;s and doctoral degrees at a 10 a.m. ceremony, and bachelor&rsquo;s degrees at a 3 p.m. ceremony.
				&ldquo;As long as the weather is in our favor,&rdquo; Adams said in the notice, &rdquo; both ceremonies will be preceded by the traditional procession of graduating students, led by bagpipers, from the Marts Center through the Campus Gateway to the McHale Athletic Center at UCOM (University Center on Main, previously a commercial call center).&rdquo;
				Plans for other celebrations that weekend are still in the works, but Adams promised &ldquo;graduates can look forward to a variety of events beginning on Friday, Sept. 11 and extending to Sunday, Sept. 13.&rdquo;
				Noting that on Monday Gov. Tom Wolf extended the state stay-at-home order until at least May 8, Adams said &ldquo;We appreciate your patience as we have waited for guidance from federal, state and local authorities. With cases continuing to develop locally and throughout the region, a decision to host commencement in June, July or early August seems premature.&rdquo;
				Assuming the pandemic risk subsides sufficiently and those orders are lifted, the September date, he argued, &ldquo;allows us to take advantage of the late-summer weather and enjoy some of the outdoor traditions that have become such an important part of our celebration.&rdquo; He also cautioned the plans could still change.
				Caps and gowns have been mailed to student homes. Those who haven&rsquo;t ordered can do so on the university website, deadline is May 15. As promised when the ceremony was first postponed without rescheduling, degrees will still be conferred May 16 as long as academic requirements are met. They will be mailed to students, and &ldquo;in September, spring graduates will walk across the stage and receive a representation of their degree. Summer graduates will receive their diplomas at the September ceremony, or by mail afterwards if they have chosen to be in absentia.
				&ldquo;I hope this news creates some happiness in your day. It certainly brings happiness and optimism to mine. We can&rsquo;t wait to be with you all again very soon.&rdquo;

Wilkes University sets spring commencement ceremony for Sept. 12